From PMA University—Don’t let authors pitch book review editors

Kristen Matthews, book editor for the “Early Show” on CBS, says book publicists shouldn’t let their authors call book review editors like her and pitch a program segment.

“Some of them can’t stand to hear the word no,” she told 200 members of the Publishers Marketing Association this afternoon. Others refuse to accept their publicist’s advice and they repeatedly mention the title of their book during taping–another no-no. Cleveland TV personality Connie Dieken once told me that when somethinglike that happens, a producer will be yelling word “kill” into the earpiece being worn by the host. In other words, “Get rid of ’em.”

She also said some authors have no business being on TV because they can’t provide the kinds of sound bites TV needs, or the passion for their book just doesn’t come through during an interview.

The answers? Either arrange for media training, or keep them off the air.

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